Graduate Mechanical Engineer

Coates Recruitment; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading medical equipment manufacturer near Cambridge seeks a Graduate / Junior Mechanical Engineer. In this practical R&D role, you will design and build prototypes for innovative medical products. Responsibilities include using workshop tools to fabricate components, modeling in SolidWorks, and collaborating with experienced engineers for design refinement. A Mechanical Engineering degree and strong hands-on skills are essential, along with a passion for engineering and building. Join a close-knit team dedicated to improving lives through innovation.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance + public holidays

Pension scheme

Extensive training and development

Real career progression opportunities

Supportive team culture and hands-on mentorship

Qualifications

• Eligibility to work in the UK (unable to support any form of sponsorship).
• Drivers with own vehicle preferred due to site location.
• Strong A-Levels in Maths and Physics are nice to have.

Responsibilities

• Turn early concepts and designs into working mechanical prototypes.
• Use workshop tools including mills, lathes, welders, and hand tools.
• Model and modify components using SolidWorks.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical skills

Proactive mindset

Passion for engineering

Experience in fabrication

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Title: Graduate / Junior Mechanical Engineer (R&D Prototype - Medical Equipment)

Salary: £28,000 - £35,000 (Depending on Experience)

Location: Cambridge (Driving licence and own vehicle preferred)

Design It. Build It. Test It. True R&D.

Do you enjoy hands‑on mechanical engineering? Do you have any experience of welding, machining, fabricating, or building things from scratch alongside your degree?

Have you ever built a robot, restored an old car, or made your own go‑kart?

Are you looking for a role where you can design real products and then build the prototypes yourself?

If that sounds like you, keep reading.

The Opportunity

We're hiring Graduate / Junior Mechanical Engineers to join our rapidly expanding R&D Hub, supporting the development of industry-leading medical equipment.

You won't be stuck behind a desk; this is a practical R&D position where, alongside design, you'll work in a workshop environment to turn concepts into real, testable prototypes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Bring ideas to life: turn early concepts and designs into working mechanical prototypes.
• Use workshop tools including mills, lathes, welders, and hand tools to fabricate and assemble components.
• Model and modify components using SolidWorks before producing them in-house.
• Work closely with experienced engineers to test, refine, and iterate designs.
• Support product testing, compliance checks, and pre‑manufacture validation activities.

What You'll Need

• Eligibility to work in the UK (unable to support any form of sponsorship)
• Drivers with own vehicle preferred due to site location

Must‑Haves

• Mechanical Engineering degree.
• Strong hands‑on mechanical skills and genuine practical ability.
• Experience or exposure to fabrication, machining, or mechanical assembly.
• A proactive mindset and enthusiasm for building real mechanical systems.
• A real passion for engineering, engines, metalwork, go‑karts, you name it! Show us your hobbies if they fall in line with this!

Nice to Have (or Willing to Learn)

• SolidWorks experience.
• Strong A‑Levels in Maths and Physics.
• Background or interest in prototype development or complex mechanical builds.

Why Join Us?

You'll be joining a family‑run, close‑knit medical equipment manufacturer based just outside Cambridge. With a rapidly expanding R&D team, you'll have real responsibility from day one—building products that go on to help thousands of people.

We Offer

• Salary: £28,000 - £35,000 DoE
• Generous holiday allowance + public holidays
• Pension scheme
• Extensive training and development
• Real career progression opportunities
• Supportive team culture and hands‑on mentorship

My client are a long‑established, fast‑growing manufacturer of innovative medical equipment, dedicated to designing and building products that genuinely improve lives. We believe in practical engineering, creativity, and giving our people the tools to grow.

Interested? Get in touch today